2026 English-taught Ph.D. Program in New Media Studies at School of New Media, Peking University

The School of New Media at Peking University was established in February 2014. It is a teaching and research institution focusing on the creative development of new media. Our school aims to promote theoretical understanding, technological innovation, and industry development in the field of new media. It also hopes to provide social services based on rigorous social research, teaching and advocacy. The School of New Media boasts some of the top teaching and research scholars in their fields. Our faculty come from a variety of academic backgrounds including communication, information science, management, sociology, psychology, and computer science. For more information about the faculty and the school, please visit the school’s website (www.snm.pku.edu.cn).

Program Introduction

The English-taught Ph.D. program in new media studies is designed to educate and develop young scholars who are equipped with the skills and knowledge to conduct high-quality scientific research, and to advance new media and online communication research in China and globally. The full-time program uses English language for courses, papers, and dissertations. The curriculum includes a variety of courses on theory, methods and critical issues in new media and online communication field.

The program employs a rigorous annual review system. Those who fail to meet the required standards may be disqualified from continuing their studies the following year. However, such students may be allowed to complete a Master’s degree instead.

Program Length

The program lasts four years for Master-Degree holders.

Tuition and Scholarship

The tuition for the program will be notified upon the university approval.

New international students may apply for the following scholarships:

(1) Chinese Government Scholarship (Type B): includes full/partial tuition waiver, for-free accommodation, monthly living expenses and medical insurance provided in accordance with the regulations.

(2) Beijing Government Scholarship for International Students: Type A includes tuition waiver, for-free accommodation, medical insurance, and monthly living expenses provided in accordance with the regulations; Type B includes tuition waiver, for-free accommodation, and medical insurance; Type C includes tuition waiver and medical insurance.

(3) Peking University Scholarship for International Students: includes full/partial tuition waiver, monthly living expenses and medical insurance.

Note: The evaluation of applicants for scholarships will be carried out in accordance with the relevant regulations of the government and the university. For more information, please refer to the International Student Division’s website (http://www.isd.pku.edu.cn).

Entry Requirements

1. Applicants must be non-Chinese citizens with a valid passport. Residents of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan who have emigrated to other countries and are applying to Peking University as international students must present valid passport or citizenship documents dating from before April 30, 2020, along with proof of cancellation of Chinese nationality.

Note: The exit and entry administration authority of the public security organ of China reserves the right to judge whether an applicant still has Chinese nationality. If during the application period or even after the admission or registration the applicant is judged to be still holding Chinese nationality, his/her application, admission, registration or even enrollment will be nullified.

2. Applicants should be healthy, both physically and psychologically, with no criminal record, and must abide by the laws and decrees of China and the regulations of Peking University.

3. Applicants for Ph.D. degree programs must have attained a Master's degree, and those who graduated from non-Chinese universities must hold a Master's degree from a university accredited by the Ministry of Education of China.

4. Applicants who are not native English speakers are required to demonstrate English language proficiency by providing TOEFL scores of no less than 100 or IELTS scores of no less than 6.5. (Please provide test scores dated after September 1, 2024.)

Application materials:

Applicants should go through the international students’ online application process at http://www.studyatpku.com, fill in the application form and upload the following documents:

Graduation certificate and degree diploma, must be notarized documents or certified copies either in Chinese or English. Degree diplomas from overseas universities must be authenticated by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, Ministry of Education, P. R. China (CSCSE). Degree diplomas from Chinese mainland universities must be authenticated by the Center for Student Services and Development, Ministry of Education, P. R. China (CSSD).

Note: Applicants who graduated before 2026 must upload their degree authentication report during the application period. Applicants expected to graduate in 2026 must provide an official letter from their current university stating their expected graduation date, submit their certificate of graduation upon being pre-admitted, and present their original degree diploma upon registration.

Official transcripts of your academic achievement up to the present, including courses taken and standard achieved, must be original documents or certified copies either in Chinese or English.
A 3000-word personal statement in English (including a research plan). Please click the link to download the template: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.php?cate=13
Résumé and a copy of the Application Commitment letter. Please click the link to download the template for the Commitment letter: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.php?cate=13
Two recommendation letters from your referees. The referees should be professor(s), associate professor(s) or persons with relevant academic title. At least one of them should have knowledge of your recent academic work. Once applicants submit the request, the application system will send a link to the recommenders, and the recommenders should click the link and complete the recommendation either by filling out the form online or by uploading the scanned copy of the signed letter. Click the link to download the template: https://isd.pku.edu.cn/en/downloads.php?cate=13
Passport front page. Applicants must upload the front page of any ordinary passport(s) he/she has used continuously since April 30, 2020, and the current passport must be valid for at least three months after enrollment.
A copy of your TOEFL (iBT) or IELTS results: Students who do not speak English as the first language must have taken the TOEFL (iBT) or IELTS and met the requirement mentioned above, unless they have received a Master’s degree from an English-speaking university. (Please provide test scores dated after September 1, 2024.)
Table of contents and abstracts of the academic publications and any other original achievement (if applicable).

Note: Applicants should scan the original or notarized application documents in color using a scanner. Images captured by mobile phone or camera are NOT acceptable.

Application Fee

The application fee is 800 RMB.

Note: Applicants are required to pay the application fee online before the application deadline. Any other currency or traveler’s check will not be accepted. Applications with incomplete documents or without application fee payment will not be processed.

The application fee is NOT refundable.

Deadline for Application

The deadline for applications is December 23, 2025.

Admission Evaluation

Initial screening. After School of New Media got the applicants’ materials (those who have met the basic application requirements) from the International Student Office, the admission committee selects qualified students based on the applicant’s academic record, his/her research agenda, the strength of the recommendation letters, and other application materials that could be evidence of his/her intellectual ability and commitment to an academic and research career.
Evaluative Interview. Applications who passed the screening will receive an evaluative interview. Based on the interview result, the admission committee makes its recommendations for admission to School of New Media. The Graduate School of Peking University reviews the results and makes a formal pre-admission decision.
The pre-admitted candidates should download and print the application form and, together with other required original application documents (except for degree diploma and recommendation letters), deliver or mail the materials to the International Student Division of Peking University.

Deadline: May 31, 2026

Address: Room 330, International Student Division, Office of International Relations, New Sun Student Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, P. R. China.

The envelope must be marked “Graduate student application materials - 2026 English-taught Ph.D. Program in New Media Studies”. All the application materials would not be returned.

The International Student Division, Office of International Relations of PKU will issue the "Admission Notice" to the successful candidates before the end of June 2026.

* For matters not covered herein, please refer to the general regulations for the admission of international students to Peking University's master's and doctoral programs in 2026.

Contact Information

School of New Media (For program enquiry)

RM 510, School of New Media, Peking University, Beijing, 100871

People' s Republic of China

E-mail: snm@pku.edu.cn

Website: snm.pku.edu.cn

International Student Division, Office of International Relations (For application)

New Sun Student Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100871

People' s Republic of China

Tel: (86-10)- 6275 1230

Fax: (86-10)-6275 1233

E-mail: study@pku.edu.cn

Website: www.isd.pku.edu.cn, www.oir.pku.edu.cn

Graduate School of Peking University

New Sun Student Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100871

People' s Republic of China

Tel: (86-10)- 6275 1354

E-mail: grszsb@pku.edu.cn

Website: admission.pku.edu.cn